The Cirrascale Blog/ Scaling the Cloud One Blog Post at a Time

The Frustrating Absence of Technology

What? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. All I wanted to do was type in a link or phrase into Google (like I normally do) and get the information I wanted. Instead, I couldn’t find anything. It was one of the first times in a long time that I was faced with the fact that someone (or some organization) decided they didn’t want to step into the 21st Century and instead they STILL run their business by hand.

I think the thing that surprised me the most was how frustrated I was by this. To me, it seemed like a no-brainer that this very large organization would have the information I was looking for on their website. When I couldn’t find it, I grew more agitated, thinking all the while, “WHAT? HOW COULD THEY NOT HAVE THIS ON THEIR SITE!” I was irritated for sure.

When I finally had moved past this little occurrence and settled down, I began thinking about how technology has truly changed our way of life. But not just technology in general… mainly, the INTERNET! How did it get to this point where I just expect the information I want to be there at my fingertips just waiting to be discovered. I seriously have this expectation because I know that with every year that passes more and more companies have adopted an online presence and, like the BORG collective on Star Trek: TNG, everything at some point will be assimilated. Right?

For example, here’s a short list of just some of the things that have nearly disappeared, are used completely online now, or have gone to the wayside: Appointment diaries, maps, encyclopedias, telegrams, letters, reference libraries, dictionaries, recipe books, yellow pages, faxes , classified ads, bill pay centers, record stores… oh, and of course mix tapes. There are so many more. Many, many, more.

So, what does this have to do with the frustrating absence of technology? You see, with all of these things disappearing and with the Internet becoming more and more prevalent in being the end-all, be-all knowledge repository, you begin to EXPECT that you can find anything online. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G!’

Have you even tried to play to Amazon.com game with your friends? No? Name anything you can think of and type it in to Amazon.com. Looking for a row of bleachers? Yup, they got it. How about some Uranium Ore? Got that too. No way they have a Stegosaurus Dog Costume, right? Oh no, they got it!

You see, I’ve been conditioned this way. The absence of technology in places where you KNOW it should be is nothing short of frustrating. I’m hoping that it doesn’t take these companies too long to grow up and get an online presence. Additionally, I hope they also aren’t just going to be the ones writing and selling books about how to bombproof your horse. Ugh.

What do you think? Are you still running in to companies with no online presence? Tell me about it!